Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna | OneFootball

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·9 April 2023

Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna

Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna

Sesko spot kick ensures share of spoils

A crazy helter-skelter encounter ended in a 3-3 draw, with Benjamin Sesko's late penalty earning us a point in a game that could have ended in almost any scoreline.

Match summary

It was relentless from the word go! Philipp Köhn was called into action after just three minutes to deny Reinhold Ranftl, as our goalkeeper showed why he is the best in his business in the Austrian Bundesliga. After six minutes of play, Sekou Koita had the first threatening moment for us, but his shot from a tight angle lacked enough oomph to cause any real danger.


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We then upped the ante and got closer to a breakthrough. Oscar Gloukh, who has just turned 19, was pulling attacking strings aplenty and supplied our opening goal (22'). He took a pass from Sekou Koita superbly from a narrow position, twisted and shot in with a clinical touch of class.

We could not afford to take the foot off the pedal despite grabbing the lead, as Austria Vienna remained a potent threat. Dominik Fitz cracked a shot on goal that Philipp Köhn saved - of course - after 35 minutes! Almost straight away at the other end, Nico Capaldo was unable to convert a wonderful pass from Oscar Gloukh in front of Christian Früchtl's goal, going close. Benjamin Sesko showed the way a minute later - with his first effort being saved and the second nodded in past the Austria keeper (39').

Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna

The second half began with a shock as Ulmer misjudged a Gruber cross and the ball made its way to Haris Tabakovic, who finished clinically (47'). VAR checked for offside, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Austria Vienna seemed to lose a bit of juice for a while as the chances began to mount at the right end of the field for us. Things then got very tense. Ranftl went down in the area and was given his second yellow card for simulation instead of a penalty for Pavlovic's challenge. An on-field VAR review allowed Ranftl to remain on the pitch, however.

That would turn out to be a very consequential decision. Ranftl made the most of his second chance to turn a loose ball over the line in the area (77').

Stunned at being pulled level, our boys raced forward to attack, but allowed too much liberty to the opponents at the back. Polster raced through and Dovedan sent the ball past Köhn, and we were suddenly 2-3 down (80').

It was far from finished with that. Capaldo was wrestled down by Polster in the box and a penalty resulted - with VAR confirming. Benjamin Sesko stepped up and smashed the ball in for 3-3, which was admittedly a fair result against a brave Austria Vienna side.

Views

It was a crazy match. We were deservedly two goals up after a good performance. The second half was difficult with Austria scoring so soon. We tried everything until the very end, and thankfully we rescued a point.

Andi Ulmer

Austria Vienna could have scored right at the start. Thankfully, we then found the net. We gave too little in the second half. Every point counts in the title race against Sturm Graz. Everyone has to go to their very limit in the final matches of the season.

Philipp Köhn

Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna

Substitutions

Okafor for Gourna-Douath (63'), Forson for Gloukh (79'), Adamu for Koita (79'), Konate for Dedic (88')

Yellow cards

Koita (31' foul), Pavlovic (45' unsporting behaviour)

Injury news

Fernando (back), Guindo (knee), Kjaergaard (foot), Omoregie (back), Onguene (knee), Sucic (knee) and Tijani (shoulder) were not available.

Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna
Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna
Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna
Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna
Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna
Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna
Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna
Article image:Dramatic draw v Austria Vienna

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